Defibrillator in place to protect village kids

Defibrillator in place to protect village kids

19 August 2015

BALLYKINLAR parents hope their children are now in safer hands after taking delivery of a potentially lifesaving machine for their local sports club.

The defibrillator machine has been delivered to the local gaelic club following a fundraising drive by parents in the community who were concerned about the welfare of their children when involved in active sport.

Parents began to campaign for the defibrillator last May due to the growing popularity of the gaelic club’s youth teams, which attract 56 children to the club grounds every week for training.

Due to the rural isolation of their grounds, they thought the equipment, which gives cardiac arrest victims a chance of survival, could potentially be of benefit to their children and the wider community.

After hosting a number of events to raise money for the equipment, including a quiz, raffle and fireside quizzes, the British Heart Foundation went into partnership with the parents and offered to part-fund the defribrillator, which is now stored in a special cabinet.

Sheree Mageean, from Ballykinlar GAC, said parents were delighted with the popularity of their youth training programme and were determined to raise enough money for the defibrillator and its cabinet to ensure better safety for the active children.  

“We are extremely grateful to the whole community of Ballykinlar for helping us achieve this,” she said.

“The defibrillator will be placed in the club grounds, meaning that local people have the best chance of survival should they suffer a cardiac arrest.“

With 1,400 people in Northern Ireland suffering a cardiac arrest every year, and just 10 per cent surviving, Jayne Murray, head of the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland, said more people could be saved if more defibrillators were available in public places and if more people felt confident using them and performing CPR. 

“We are delighted that Ballykinlar have joined BHF Northern Ireland’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign by making another defibrillator available in Ballykinlar GAC and teaching CPR locally. It could really be the difference between life and death,” she said.

BHF have helped place over 13,000 life-saving defibrillators in communities around the UK. 

The BHF asks for a contribution of £400 towards each defibrillator as part of the community package. 

To find out more about defibrillators and how to place one in your organisation or community visit www.bhf.org.uk.